History of the Reformation of the Church of Scotland, Commentary 4
Addition.
AS Satan by craft hath corrupted the most holy Ordinances of Gods precepts, I mean of the first Table, in the place of the spirituall honouring of God, introducing mens dreams, inventions, and fantasies. So hath he, abusing the weaknesse of man, corrupted the precepts of the second Table, Touching the honour which is due to Parents, under whom are comprehended Princes and Teachers. For now the devill hath so blinded the senses of many, that they cannot, or at least, will not learn what appertaineth to God,Note. and what to Caesar. But because the spirit of God hath said, Honour the King; therefore, whatsoever they command, be it right or wrong, must be obeyed. But heavy shall the judgement be, which shall apprehend such blasphemers of Gods Majesty, who dare be so bold as to affirm, That God hath commanded any creature to be obeyed against himself.Take heed of unlawfull obedience. Against God it is, That for the commandment of any Prince, be he never so potent, men shall commit Idolatry, embrace a Religion which God hath not approved by his Word, or confirm, by their silence, wicked and blasphemous Laws, made against the honour of his Majestie. Men I say, that so do, give no true obedience, but as they are Apostates from God, so are they Traytors to their Princes, whom by flattery they confirm in rebelling against God; onelyonly, they which to the death resist such wicked laws and decrees, are acceptable to God, and faithfull to their Princes;Dan. 3. Dan. 6. As were the three children in the presence of Nabuchadnezzar, and Daniel in the dayes of Darius (the Persian Emperour) whose constant and free confession, as it glorified God, so did it notifie as well to those tyrants, as to all ages following, the great blasphemy which in their rage and fury they committed against God, from the which (by all appearance) neither of both so suddenly should have been called, if the three children had bowed among the rest, and Daniel had not declared the confession of his faith; Which was, with Windows open to pray towards Ierusalem, manifestly thereby declaring, That he did not consent to the blasphemous law, and decree, which was established by the King and his Counsell. Experience hath taught us what surmises and blasphemies the adversaries of Christ Jesus, of his eternall verity, do invent and devise against such as begin to detect their impiety. They are accused to be Authors of sedition, raisers of tumults, violators of common orders, &c.
I answer with the Prophet Esay, That all is not reputed before God sedition and conjuration, which the foolish multitude so esteemeth; neither yet is every tumult and breach of publike order, contrary to Gods commandment;Answ. for Christ Jesus himself coming to take the spoil from the strong armed,Matth. 10. who before did keepe his house in quietnesse, is not come to send Peace, but a Sword, and to make a man disassent from his Father, &c. His Prophets before him, and Apostles after him, feared not to break publike Orders, established against God, and in so doing, to move (as it were) the one half of peoples, nations, and cities against the other; and yet I trust that none, except the hired servant of Sathan, will accuse Christ of sedition,Act. 14. nor the Apostles of the troubling of Common wealths. True it is, that the most wholesome Medicine most troubleth (for a time) the body replenished with wicked and corrupted humours, but the cause hereof is known to be, not in the Medicine, but in the Bodie subject to Maladie;Note. even so the true Word of God, when it entreth to fight where Sathan hath born dominion, (as he still doth in the whole Papistrie) cannot but appear to be occasion of great trouble. But Madame, more profitable it is, that the pestilent humours be expelled with pain,The Papisticall Religion a mortall Pestilence. then that they be nourished, to the distruction of the body. The Papisticall Religion is a mortall pestilence, which shall assuredly bring to death eternall the bodies and souls, from the which it is not purged in this life; and therefore take heed betimes, God calleth upon you, beware that ye shut not up your ears: Judge not the matter after the vilenesse of my body, whom God hath appointed Ambassadour and Messenger unto you, but with reverence and fear consider him whose Message I bear. I come to you in the name of the Eternall God, and of Christ Jesus his Son, to whom the Father hath committed all power, whom he hath established Soveraign Judge over all flesh, before whose Throne you must make accompt with what reverence you hear such as he sendeth. It shall not excuse you to say or think,The Admonition. That you doubt whether I be sent of God or no; I crie unto you, That the Religion which the Princes and blinded Papists maintain with fire and sword, is not the Religion of Christ; That your proud Prelates are none of Christs Bishops; I admonish you, That Christs Flock is oppressed by them, and therefore I require, and that yet again in the name of the Lord Jesus, That with indifferency I may be heard to preach, to reason, and to dispute in that Cause; which if you deny, you declare your self to bear no reverence to Christ, nor love to his true Religion.